S6E1 - Microsoft updates December - new products and features released
Jan 17, 2025
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The hosts dive into the latest Microsoft updates, exploring key enhancements in Entra, Intune, and Defender. They discuss advanced features in Defender XDR and Sentinel, emphasizing improved security capabilities. Azure Automation's new service limits and updates for MySQL bindings in Azure Functions are highlighted. The podcast also covers optimized scanning intervals for cloud connectors and the evolving landscape of cloud security. Exciting future topics are teased, including insights on Defender for APIs.
38:31
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Quick takeaways
Microsoft Defender XDR updates enhance content management in multi-tenant environments, simplifying data analysis and operational efficiency.
Microsoft Entra's new features improve synchronization with on-premises Active Directory, strengthening security through proactive access management and governance.
Deep dives
Key Enhancements in Microsoft Defender XDR
Microsoft Defender XDR introduced significant updates, notably regarding content distribution through tenant groups, allowing for better content management within multi-tenant environments. New integrations enable advanced hunting features that link directly to instances, making it easier to analyze query results and correlate data more effectively. Additionally, the portal now supports optimization recommendations tailored to the size and endpoints of organizations, enhancing operational efficiency. The integration of Microsoft Sentinel workbooks directly within the Defender portal aims to streamline user experience by reducing the need to navigate between different interfaces.
Updates in Microsoft Entra and Intune
Microsoft Entra announced the general availability of a dedicated resource application that facilitates synchronization between on-premises Active Directory and cloud services, enhancing security through least privilege access. Moreover, the identity governance features received significant upgrades, allowing approvers to revoke access in real-time, providing a more proactive approach to access management. Intune also added support for Android devices, alongside enhancements in endpoint security, like tamper protection policy configurations. These updates reinforce the commitment to operational security and user management within the Microsoft ecosystem.
Azure SQL and Automation Enhancements
Several updates were made to Azure SQL, including enhanced monitoring capabilities for throttling in hyperscale databases, which can directly impact database performance and management. New flexible reservation options for Azure SQL databases aim to provide users with greater financial flexibility and planning in resource allocation. The Azure Automation service also underwent vital revisions, introducing new limits on automation accounts and concurrent jobs per subscription, aimed at optimizing resource usage and preventing abuse. Users are encouraged to consult the Microsoft Azure update log, as numerous changes continue to roll out across the platform.
This week, Alan and Sam talk about new features and services that have gone into Public Preview or General Available status in the last month. We dive into a couple of these updates that peaked our interest.
Some of the Microsoft product features and update we covered:
Key Microsoft Entra, Intune and Defender features and updates
Lots of Azure changes and new features
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